Logan Panchot – St. Louis’ Top 2017 Soccer Recruit

Logan Panchot for the SLSG Missouri Academy 98-99 team challenges Benny Huels of the SLSG Illinois Academy in the Final Derby between the Academy programs on May 26, 2017
On his birthday (Happy 19th Logan!) it’s time to offer some recognition to a young man I believe is the top recruit from St. Louis this season. It’s not just me either. College Soccer News has Logan Panchot ranked #8 in the Class of 2017. That’s up from his #11 spot in August 2016 at the start of the Academy season, reflective of his impact for SLSG Missouri and within the US Soccer Development Academy program. He’s used that springboard to move to Stanford, the two-time defending NCAA Division I champions. He leaves next week so your next opportunity to see the young man live could come in September when the Cardinal visit the Billikens. Mark your calendars now.

Stanford signed nine of the nation’s best prep soccer players to National Letters of Intent. Fresh off its second consecutive NCAA title, the Cardinal stockpiled an impressive array of talent with the addition of its 2017 class, widely considered the best in the country. Head coach Jeremy Gunn offered the following comments on Panchot as part of their press release:

I enjoyed watching Logan for a number of years where he was originally playing at a club for one of my ex-Fort Lewis players. He’s a wonderful, composed, smooth soccer player who is equally capable of playing as a wide midfielder or as a fullback. His all-around technical ability and composure on the ball are very, very valued assets in his game.

HIGHLIGHTS
* St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club (2006-17)
* Won state championships in 2009 and 2016 (STLFC U19’s)
* Two-time team captain
* Has been involved in the U.S. Soccer system since 2011
* Participated in a U-14 camp in 2011 and also traveled to Scotland and England
* Participated in five U-14 camps in 2012 and six U-15 camps in 2013
* Member of the U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Program (2013-16)
* Captain of the U-17 National Team for a match against Panama (2013)
* Scored his first international goal against Norway in Denmark (2014)
* Participated in two U-19 camps in 2016
* Maintains over a 4.0 GPA
* Leader of the Suicide Awareness Project at his school

I first interviewed Logan as a seventh grader (video below, May 2012), interrupting his individual training effort at the SLSG Creve Coeur facility as the rest of the family watched his older brother Austin (a junior to be on the Indiana Hoosier’s soccer team) play in an Academy game. He was preparing to attend his fifth US Youth team camp already. His first? It came in the Summer of 2011 and it was immortalized in a recent story on TopDrawer soccer, described as “what could ultimately be the single most impactful U14 ID camp ever run by U.S. Soccer, shifting the onus onto a new generation not matched in depth and top-end talent since the inaugural U17 residency class in 1999 (Donovan, Beasley, eta al)”.

Panchot came in as an Attacking Midfielder, just like Christian Pulisic. The two lads are now BFF’s, spending time off together in Pulisic’s Pennsylvania home already this Summer as each prepares for the next step in their growth. Their friendship would grow as they spent two years together as part of the US Residency Program, preparing for the 2015 U17 World Cup. Panchot would just miss the cut for that event, named to the final Camp.

That disappointment didn’t stop his development or growth, going on to be named an NSCAA All-American in his final semester in Floriday. He immediately began working again with the SLSG Academy and has since been called in for the U19 Men’s team Camp, maintaining his connection with US Soccer.

Discussing his role on the outside, an Academy Coach emphasized the goal of helping him continue his development in a position best suited for a college and future professional career, noting that is more important than winning. As the summary below notes, only two seniors graduate from the 2016 Stanford championship squad. One’s a defender and that has College Soccer News speculating that Panchot could be a good fit on the outside with his two-way abilities.

Freshmen Logan Panchot out of the St. Louis Scott Gallagher Club and Andrew Aprahamian out of the Philadelphia Union are among several newcomers who are very highly regarded and could challenge for minutes in the back in 2017.

The final item worth highlighting is how Panchot has gone about this. He worked extremely hard while also leaving his family and friends behind for two years during high school. While the ultimate goal of playing in the U17 World Cup eluded him, it has not stopped him. Folks talk about ‘putting your head down and getting to work’ and he’s done that and more. His experience in that development cauldron has been put to extremely good use in his return. It’s all the little things he does that separate him from his peers locally – his vision, awareness, strength and skills all combine to present the best representation of what is possible.

Panchot now gets an education at a Top 5 school internationally and an opportunity to continue his development on the pitch with a program that is only going to get better as noted below. A professional career is also on the horizon in my opinion, much like Stanford alumni Jordan Morris has accomplished.

College Soccer News offers this preview for 2017 – In the five seasons that Gunn has been at the helm of the program the Cardinal have recorded a 65-23-16 overall mark including a 46-8-11 overall record in the last three seasons. They have earned the Pac-12 Title three times under Gunn’s guidance as compared to only once previously (2001) since joining the Pac-12 (then Pac-10) Conference in 2000. Stanford has made four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament and secured the program’s first ever national title in 2015 followed by its second national title in 2016. With only two starters graduating, the goalkeeper and a centerback, Panchot has an opportunity to step in as a freshman.

Congratulations to Logan. I have very much enjoyed seeing you develop into the player and individual he is and look forward to watching his continued growth. Impressive stuff young man!

My first interview with Logan, as a 7th Grader, prior to his fourth US Youth National Team Camp (already) and playing for the U15 team already.